What's the deal with Docker? - eviltoast

I never understood how to use Docker, what makes it so special? I would really like to use it on my Rapsberry Pi 3 Model B+ to ease the setup process of selfhosting different things.

I’m currently running these things without Docker:

  • Mumble server with a Discord bridge and a music bot
  • Maubot, a plugin-based Matrix bot
  • FTP server
  • Two Discord Music bots

All of these things are running as systemd services in the background. Should I change this? A lot of the things I’m hosting offer Docker images.

It would also be great if someone could give me a quick-start guide for Docker. Thanks in advance!

  • AlexPewMaster@lemmy.zipOPEnglish
    1·
    8 months ago

    What is Portainer? You’ve said that it’s a web UI, but what exactly does it provide you with?

    • LifeBandit666@feddit.ukEnglish
      1·
      8 months ago

      Well the webui provides me with a list of containers, whether they’re running or not, the ports that are opened by the containers. There’s Stacks which are basically Docker Compose files in a neat UI. The ability to move these stacks to other instances. There’s the network options and ability to make more networks, the files that are associated with the containers.

      And not just for the instance I’m in, but for all the instances I’ve connected.

      In my previous experience with Docker these are all things that I need to remember code to find, meaning I most often have to Google the code to find out what I’m after. Here is neatly packaged in a web page.

      Oh and the logs, which are really useful when tinkering to try get something up and running

      • AlexPewMaster@lemmy.zipOPEnglish
        2·
        8 months ago

        Sounds awesome! I’ve taken a look at Portainer and got confused on the whole Business Edition and Community Edition. What are you running?

          • Oisteink@lemmy.worldEnglish
            1·
            8 months ago

            Docker can be many things - and portainer is a nice replacement for those using docker for running services. It’s got a great web interface. For automation and most development docker and compose is my pick. Also a good fit for those that only use X to spawn terminals.

      • DontNoodles@discuss.tchncs.deEnglish
        1·
        8 months ago

        Does portainer, and docker in turn, allow taking/accessing something like point in time snapshots of containers like VM software do? They make it easy to tinker with stuff, knowing that if I mess up, I can go back to a snapshot and be good again.